A New Year.

It is crazy how fast a year can seem. In 365 days, the seasons change, goals are made, holidays are celebrated, birthdays are passed, and life is going on. So before I start a new year, I need to reflect on the last year.

I started 2010 in San Francisco, California. I had been living there three years while working for Company C Contemporary Ballet. By New Years, we were planning our tour to NYC and partying the year away. I was pretty certain that that was going to be my last year in SF but I wasn’t certain where life would take me. In May, just weeks before ending my contract with Company C, I decided that my next move was to be to New York, New York. I finished up the season in SF, packed my bags, and flew to NYC (where I got a refund on my extra bags due to that fact that the woman loved ballet). In my time there, I lived a life that many (including myself) dreamed of. I had and will always have a place in my heart for NYC. Im so glad that I was able to experience life in the Big Apple. After three months, I got a job offer in Europe. It was a tempting offer that I just couldn’t turn down. September 5th brought me to Split, Croatia where I started dancing for The Croatian National Ballet. In this time, I danced in a beautiful theater and turned 24 while on tour in Italy. I guess the rest you know... 

So much excitement and adventure in just 365 days. I think what was just as thrilling and beneficial for me was how much I have grown in this time. I continue to learn more about myself and discover more interests. I have pursued writing and photography- two interests that I have had for a while but never followed. I wonder what 2011 will bring. One thing I definitely learned here is that I don't need to try and top myself year after year or city after city. Just get as much out of each circumstance as possible.

So as the new year begins, I am ready and waiting for new and more adventures. 

Christmas in Split.

Christmas in Split is a little different than America. Ok, it is VERY different. At this point though, that should come as no surprise. Now, I am no expert on Christmas (being a Jew and all) but I have done my share of holiday partying. Celebrating in Split this year, introduced me to a new way of celebrating. 

For one, the season and preparation starts much later. People don’t get their trees until a few days before and only keep them for a couple weeks. I learned that its because they don’t have stands that have water. So to avoid having a dry tree in their homes, they buy a tree around December 23rd and keep it until the beginning of January. Christmas overall is more simple and much less commercial. It definitely is exciting to people here but they show/express it in very different ways. I would see people dressing up but not necessarily dressing in Santa hats or wearing fun festive colors. There is also a considerably less amount of decorations in Split than at home. In fact, I tried looking for a little and all I could find were simple ornaments that were lacking in originality or sparkle. I guess Croatians put the emphasis more on the holidays itself than the celebrating. 

On Christmas Eve, I was invited to one of the dancers house. It was a small gathering of some familiar faces and some new ones. Everyone contributed a dish to what ended up being an amazing and amazingly filling dinner. Dinner included popular dishes from different cultures. I think the highlight of the meal for me would have been the large hollow tomatoes with tuna salad in them. It was so delicious! For dessert, one of the dancers made a huge cake in the shape of a Christmas tree. It was filled with different fruits and layers of vanilla and chocolate cake. After dinner, the evening ended with all of us sitting around the tree and talking and opening presents. The best part of the night was definitely being with good company and enjoying a lovely night. 

The next night, Christmas, was a little bit more crazy but fun nonetheless. In true Scott form, I wore a tie for the occasion. Dinner was at the Villa (which was super convenient for me) and again, we all contributed a dish to what ended up being a fabulous meal. I grilled some vegetables while others made turkey, cole slaw, lasagna, cakes, and chocolate salami (Italian dessert). Making a reprise, there was another cake in the shape of Christmas tree... and just as delicious as the night before. We definitely were not short any food! After dinner, being the rambunctious dancers that we are, we played a few games for a few hours that included breaking chairs, falling on the floor, and many many good pictures. Again, another great night spent with great people... wearing red. 

The overall holiday feeling is different here but the similarity of surrounding yourself with those who are important to you, must be universal. Thats why I love the holidays : )

Pictures to come soon.

Roads.

There are so many roads in life. How are you supposed to know which one to take? Do you go where the wind takes you or do you direct yourself? After we have decided on which road to travel, how do we know we have chosen the right one?

I guess there will never be answers to those questions until the day when we are able to travel back in time. We will never know if we are making the right decisions but living life with hesitance, isn’t living life to the fullest. I’m reading Julie Andrews’ biography and in doing so, I am learning a lot about success and struggle. She has worked nonstop since she was a little girl but has only had a handful of successful projects. However, she has participated in MANY more projects that include albums, theater and movies and TV shows that have all failed miserably. When she looks at her life though, she never thinks of her projects as failures. She loved all of her endeavors and has continued to learn from each one. So to her, failure was measured differently than how Hollywood or New York City would measure it. She took the roads that she saw attractive. 

I feel like I have so many options in life. When I look back, I would have never guessed that I would be where I am now. That makes me think about the future. I want to be in the same position and be somewhere that I would have never thought possible. Being here, has made me notice how it is very AMERICAN to think about money and success. Its the way we are all brought up, its our basis for judging people and giving them a status, and it determines if we are successful or not. I have noticed that Europeans live a much calmer, simpler and more relaxed life. Enjoy today and worry about tomorrow later. To me, it sounds crazy but to them, its how they are happy. Well, I think that works for them BUT I need to plan for tomorrow! 

Where will life take me next?

Italy: Part Six

The Italy tour has officially come to an end. Yes, I fell in love with Italy but I am happy to be off the road and back in my own bed. We still have performance in Croatia coming up and rehearsals for upcoming ballets at the beginning of the new year. 

Italy was simply amazing. This tour showed me land and cities that I would never have seen on my own. It showed me that smaller cities can offer just as much as bigger cities. It made me realize that there is so much in the world and other ways to live, eat and think. I have only seen Italy in movies and pictures but the experience in person in much different. People are smiling and proud of what they have. This trip served as a really wonderful lesson to me. 

One shock was that Italians really DON’T speak English! I assumed that after living in Split, I wouldn’t come across a country that spoke LESS English. Well, Italy definitely speaks less English. However, with the little Croatian and Spanish I know, and strong use of hands, I was able to communicate well enough to get what I needed. I think I might start taking Italian to learn the language officially. 

So a million pictures, kisses, noodles, and miles later, I am back in Split a wiser person. I have seen the boot shaped country that others have talked about so often. I ate their food, seen their homes, performed on their stages, spoke (a little of) their language, and met their locals. And all of those stories that I have of Italy and all it shared with me, will become fond memories!

Theater in Ancona

Ancona

Ancona

Ancona

The ship that took us back to Split

Italy: Part Five

So the trip will quickly becoming to an end. It has been close to two weeks in Italy and we only have a few days left. In the past few days, we saw and performed in Lecce, Gallipoli, and now in Senigallia. This trip is sure flying by when you see a new city and live a new experience everyday. But with how great that sounds though, don't forget that we are also performing EVERYDAY!


While we were in Lecce, we were invited to the home of one of the dancers that is from that town. It was so wonderful to see an Italian household. It was everything you would expect AND THEN MORE. I was hugged and kissed by everyone and welcomed so graciously. The meal included several appetizers, lasagna, salad, steak and then a birthday cake. It was delicious and insanely filling meal. The best part of that though wasn't the food, it was the love and warmth that was in that household. Her family and friends kept coming throughout the day to meet us all and greet us. It was truly a beautiful day. 


Today, we got to Senigallia and we will be here for two days. This could quite possibly be the best and most modern theater we performed in. It might also be the sweetest town. The shops look like they came right out of a movie. Its really cute to see a town with old and historic buildings with modern interiors. I will have to take pictures tomorrow and post them later. 


Italy has been a very different experience than what I would imagine from the movies. I wish I could describe it better but I can definitely say that Italy is magical and charming. Here are some pictures from our time in Gallipoli. You can see how beautiful even a smaller city is!

A view from my hotel room in Gallipoli

Gallipoli

Gallipoli

Gallipoli

The never ending stairwell in our hotel

ALL of my costumes for Nutcracker. Can you count how many?

Italy: Part Four

Our tour is coming along quite quickly. Everyday, I find myself in a new city and falling more and more in love with Italy. Tonight we performed in a city called Brindisi. It was quite beautiful and the locals were personable and fashionable. 


Our show went well. We are in a routine now and it has become easier to get through. I mean, it should since we are performing everyday! We're also at a point where we are comfortable in all our roles that we play pranks with each other on stage. Its not the most professional but it keeps it fun.


Here are some pictures from the last two days. We have little time for play but we manage to squeeze in a walk here or there. 

Kristina and I near one of our hotels

Our posters on walls near the theater

Downtown Brindisi

Brindisi

Backstage door after a show... always dancing ; )

I really wish I was able to capture the same feeling and beauty Italy offers but no pictures will ever be able to do that. There is a feeling in the atmosphere that is hard to explain and impossible to capture. You're just going to have to come and visit!!!

Italy: Part Three

We are at the beginning of day six. This wonderful experience went from amazing to hard work very quickly. To give you an idea of how crazy our schedule has been, here is a short list to summarize it. In the last 2 days, we had 4 shows. In those 4 shows, I had 18 costume changes, 11 makeup changes and 4 hair changes. Thats a lot of changing and dancing!


We arrived in Rendo, Italy this afternoon. Its been interesting seeing the difference in personalities. While we were in Catania and other surrounding cities, I noticed that people were very welcoming and gracious. In Rendo, people are a little bit more stuck up. I also noticed (and think its interesting) that Italians know LESS English than Croatians. Communication has been much harder here. I definitely find myself pointing and using wild gestures a lot. 


I just tried my first Italian pizza and gelato. IT WAS AMAZING! I don't know how I am ever going to eat pizza anywhere else again. They really know how its done here!


As for the performances, it has been hard finding the energy to perform day after day and with NO breaks. Its also hard to have to perform after sitting on a bus for hours and hours. However, when I am on stage, I look around and think about how lucky I am that I get to share a stage with such beautiful and talented dancers!

Downtown Catania, a block from the theater

Downtown Catania

Bakery in Catania

Leaving Sicilia!!!

On the boat after Sicilia

On the road and heading to Rendo

Close by Rendo

Italy: Part Two

We are at the end of day three of our Italian tour. So far, it has been one of the most amazing experiences of my life. Italy offers so much beauty and history. Each town is so different from the last but the atmosphere and the feelings are all the same. 

Our first performance was in a town called Noto. It was quite possibly the most beautiful and romantic towns I have ever seen. The charm of all the buildings, set a perfect atmosphere against the green mountains in the background. The theater was very old (and the backstage lacked in modern technology to prove it). All in all, I would have hated to live life without seeing Noto. 

Tonights performance (and the for the next two nights), was in a city called Catania. It was such an interesting city and I am so glad that I have two more days to explore. It was filled with OLD two or three story stone buildings with trendy cafes and shops. It was a metropolitan city that reminded me of New York City. 

Italy has a very homey feel and offers the most amazing views. The food has become very exciting to me. All the pastries, pastas, and chicken ARE DELICIOUS! I feel like I am going to go back to Croatia 20 pounds heavier. It is such a pleasure and honor to be given to opportunity to perform throughout Italy. I recommend EVERYONE to visit all the beautiful cities in Italy. 

The ladies and I near our hotel in Acitrezza.

Acitrezza

Acitrezza

Entrance to Noto. 

Walking through Noto.

Noto.

On our walk to the theater in Noto

The side of the theater in Noto. 

One of our posters! 

Italy: Part One

At 19:00 on November 23, 2010, I boarded the Blue Line from Split, Croatia and heading to Ancona, Italy. I have seen this ship docked on the Riva everyday but this was my first time onboard. From the outside, the ship looks like nothing out of the ordinary. On the inside, the ship offered shopping, nightclubs, lounging, a chapel, and cabins smaller than most peoples closets. It was a pleasant surprise and honestly, a relief since we would be spending the night on the ship. I decided that this was going to be a special night and that I must dress for the occasion. I wore a button up shirt with a matching bow tie, and sweater. Indeed, it was memorable night. The dancers and myself stayed in the lounge area and shared some drinks, laughs, and games. We headed to our cabins by 2 in the morning and just had a few hours of sleep before landing in Italy. 

This tour will become memorable and a lifetime experience for many reasons. For one, while on the ship, at midnight, I turned 24 (hence the bow tie). I thought my birthday would be forgotten and spent being dragged along the road. It was quite the opposite. My friends made this birthday a very special birthday. I was greeted on the boat with thoughtful gifts and surprises. Also, everyone made it a point to wish me a happy birthday and give me a kiss. One of my friends baked me cookies that spelt out HAPPY BIRTHDAY SCOTT and made exactly 24 cookies. It was incredibly sweet! My director even made it a point to wish me a happy birthday and give me a kiss. Friends, Italy and gifts, WHO CAN ASK FOR A BETTER BIRTHDAY!?!

On the morning of November 24 (my birthday), we had landed in Ancona, Italy. In true Scott fashion, I was LITERALLY the last passenger off the ship. This meant that I was to be the last one boarding the bus. On the long walk from the ship to the bus, I just thought about how my fellow dancers and director will be upset that I held everyone up. Their response was quite the opposite. I walked up the few stairs to a bus full of dancers singing happy birthday to me. It was truly special for me to see them all happy. Later, Almira, my director, gave me a wonderful gift that she had purchased in Italy. All the dancers made this day very special for me. 

The day started young. Anconia is northern Italy and we were heading south... very south. We spent close to 27 hours in total traveling time on boats or sitting on a bus and passing through beautiful and interesting cities. Dancers being dancers, we had to make many stops for those who smoke! Some dancers spent much of the time sleeping. Its pretty interesting to see what positions dancers can sleep in when they are on a small bus. I decided to stay awake so I can look out the window and see as much of Italy as possible. I think I fell in love! Italy’s beauty is so natural, subtle but breathtaking. Even just sitting on a bus, I can’t help but to be in awe of what I am seeing. At 21:00, we reached Reggio Calabria. We went on another boat that took us directly to Sicily. From Sicily, we drove to Catania and finally reached our hotel at 23:00. I think we all can agree that it was a FULL day of traveling!  I can’t wait to see more of this beautiful country in the next two weeks!

Me, Yurie, and Caity sitting on the boat.

A cute sign that was on the boat

Another great sign. 

One of the dancers gifts. Count how many cookies there are. 

On the bus. THATS ITALY!

Andrej resting on the floor of the bus.

Sicily

Long Overdue.

This blog entry has been LONG overdue. My life has gone from its normal routine into a busy rehearsal schedule for an upcoming tour. We will be leaving for Italy on Tuesday! On tour, we will be going to Sicily and other surrounding cities and performing Don Quixote and The Nutcracker. 

The past two weeks have been focused on learning TWO full length ballets and getting them ready to perform. That is no easy task to comfortably dance a role that you rushed to learn. However, I did it! I learned ALL the roles (as best as I could) and ready to get on the boat to Italy. I was told that the stages in Italy are raked. This means that the stage is slanted forward. Its not too common in America (The Hollywood Bowl is the only raked stage that I performed on) so it will be interesting to see how it changes my dancing. Only the older theaters that haven’t been renovated have raked stages. That is one of the reasons why ballet has evolved overtime. On a slanted surface, you naturally stand forward. On a flat surface, you stand upright. So the lines of a dancers body have changed over time. 

In Italy, I will be turning the BIG 2-4! I’m not excited about getting older but I’m excited to be in Italy to celebrate. This year will be the first time I won’t be home for the holidays or my birthday.  Holidays are always wonderful when you can be around your family BUT my family told me that they will be celebrating my birthday back in America. Thats wonderful and makes me feel like I am there. I was just talking to a friend in Germany who has been away from America for a while. He was saying that the holidays are the hardest time to be away. Its hard because dancers are dancing so much and in a place that isn’t home and with people that aren’t your family. I can already understand what he saying. Holiday lights were just put up on the streets and throughout the city. The feeling of the season is here... kind of. This is an amazing experience though so I just as I did for Halloween, I will still be festive and find another way to celebrate. 

I will try to write about my Italian experiences as they come. We have a busy performance schedule but I am sure that I will have a lot to share!

Reflection.

Living a more simple life and in a more simple city has really made me think about the last few years of my life. Split focuses on life and beauty. I am living a new life without television, cell phones, and (pretty much) without internet. I’m not able to sit on a couch after rehearsal, turn on E! News, and learn about Lindsay Lohan’s newest arrest. I am left with my thoughts and memories instead.

In reflection, all those little things I complained about were trivial. Was my life really so hard as to complain about the things I would find and complain about? I don’t think so. If so though, then why would I complain about it? I have always lived a good and privileged life.  Every life poses obstacles. Those obstacles represent lessons. Learning turns into your advantage. So in the end, you win. 

I can find good more than evil. I see the world through optimistic brown colored eyes. The world we live in is beautiful. Life is beautiful. I think back and realize that I made so many mistakes in life. At this point, its too late to change them and pointless to live life in sorrow over them. I can turn them into lessons though and change my decisions for the future. In life, we lose things. We lose friends, lovers, money, and jobs. We can blame other people for this but you are still the one left responsible for your losses. Life is interesting like that. We don’t live life in a movie that you can stop, rewind, and playback in a different way. 

So as I am sitting here, I realize that we all make mistakes that we will regret later on. I learned that you have to look back in hindsight and find those errors and make sure that you don’t repeat them. We can’t mourn over our losses because at the end of the day, we are all lucky. And finally, I learned that HAPPINESS is our life goal. 

Have you found yours? 

; )

Halloween

I have learned another thing about Croatia this week. I have learned that Halloween is not a huge event nor a commercial craze like it is in America. Most of the dancers weren’t even sure what day Halloween was on. 

My American friends and I decided to throw our own little Halloween party in an attempt to bring the tradition over here. Well, that posed for a harder challenge than we were expecting. There aren’t isles of candy, costumes or decorations in the stores here like there are at home. In fact, there are NONE!  Its weird to walk the streets and through the stores and not see any sign of Halloween or anyone in the festive spirit. Honestly, it was a shock to all of us and it made it a little difficult to get into the spirit of Halloween. 

We ended up going to the grocery store and buying everything we could possibly think of to make the most of our situation. For dinner, we all made a dish that was very suitable the season. For dessert, we had chocolate pudding with worms, gravestones, and other spooky decorations. For entertainment, we invited some of the dancers over. We all ended up having one of the best Halloweens ever. 

After we ate dinner, we played music and painted our faces. We looked ridiculous but it was so fun! Then, while we were TPing our villa, we lost one of our friends outside. Caity had gone missing. Now I should probably set the scene for you. We live on our own private beach. Before getting to the water, you have to walk down all the large rocks and through some bushes. Well, with the ocean and the moon setting the perfect background, we were all excited and scared to go on the hunt for Caity. Every so often we would hear her scream from a far and random location. After about a half an hour of searching, WE CAPTURED HER. It really made the night perfect and set the perfect mood on the evening. We ended the night by watching Rocky Horror Picture Show. How can you NOT enjoy that?

It was a change from the normal Halloween I am use to. I had to make due with what was available. Instead of fancy costumes, we painted our faces. Instead of candy, we had a graveyard meal. And instead of trick or treating (or parades or partying), we went on a hunt for a missing person. It was fantastic. 

The beginning of the night

Caity getting scared!

The boys

The girls

Alan getting eaten by the girls

The end of the night!